In honour of poet Joanne Page, the Department of English Language and Literature has gifted $25,000 to an endowed visiting writers fund.

Joanne was a much-loved poet, visual artist, and Whig-Standard columnist in Kingston. She has come to represent, in her generosity, care, and enthusiasms, the very spirit of this city’s arts family.

In 2012 the English Department, under Head Marta Straznicky, inaugurated The Page Lectures. Earlier that year, Phil Hall was Writer-in Residence at Queen’s and initiated the series as a way of honouring Joanne. He continues as the director of the series, under the sponsorship of the English Department. He writes:

“Now in its 4th year, The Page Lectures brings one distinguished Canadian writer to the University each fall to present a new and original paper that focuses loosely on the whole wide-ranging subject of ‘the page.’ Joanne liked to joke that she had the perfect last name for a lecture series of this kind; but it was to celebrate what she meant to us all that the series was started. It is to commemorate what she gave us all that the Series continues…”

This fall, on October 27th, The Page Lecture will be given by one of Canada’s very best novelists, Elizabeth Hay.

The Department of English Language and Literature is proud to make this commitment to Joanne’s legacy, and to cement this annual event in the calendar of Creative Writing at Queen’s.

The Department encourages donations to the Joanne Page Fund in memory of Joanne.